Port of Davisville Investment
Ensures Future Jobs, Growth
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QDC's Managing Director, Steven J. King, PE
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Today, more than 75 companies rely on Quonset's Port of Davisville to put $97 million of annual earnings into the pockets of Rhode Island workers. At the same time, the Port generates $27 million in state and local taxes and supports 1,500 direct, indirect and induced jobs. Consistently one of the Top 10 auto ports in North America, the Port of Davisville has experienced 547% growth over the past 20 years and had its sixth record breaking year of auto imports in 2015.
Question 5 on tomorrow's ballot proposes a $50 million investment to modernize and rehabilitate Pier 2 at the Port of Davisville.
"Pier 2 is 'the work horse' of Davisville," said Steven J. King, Managing Directer of the Quonset Development Corporation (QDC). "It was built in 1956 with a design life of 50 years, but is now 60 years old."
"The investment will ensure that the Port remains a key asset to Rhode Island's economy," he added.
Modernizing Pier 2 is no small task. The entire project will cost roughly $90 million and will include the creation of a third berth, some dredging, and installing new sheet pile around the entire 16 acre earth filled wharf. The investment will be made in three parts:
- $25 million revenue bond repaid entirely by the QDC via port users, at no cost to state taxpayers;
- $50 million general obligation bond, and;
- $15 million appropriation from the State's Capital Plan Fund.
In addition to extending the life of Pier 2 for another 50 years, adding a third berth will create more overall capacity for other shippers to call at the facility, King said.
"The increase in off-shore wind projects, opportunities in short-sea shipping, robust auto imports, and potential auto export business are all on the horizon," he continued. "This project will ensure that Quonset's Davisville stays competitive with other ports in the region while preserving hundreds of jobs in the maritime sector."
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Rail Traffic at Quonset Grows 368%
Thanks to Rail Investment
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Auto racks deliver vehicles directly to the
Port of Davisville by rail from the Midwest
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Rail car volumes at Quonset Business Park have grown several-fold over the years thanks in large part to Rhode Island's Freight Rail Improvement Project (FRIP) which was completed in 2006. The project initially gained steam when Rhode Islanders approved a ballot measure in 1996 that committed $50 million in funding to help drive more than 22 miles of improvements to the state's rail system. Just 10 years after completion, the growth of rail traffic at Quonset is a testament to the wise investment Rhode Islanders made with FRIP. |
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U.S. Sen. Jack Reed
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The project extended from Pawtucket to Quonset Business Park, bringing 12 new miles of track south of Providence, upgrading five miles of track north of Providence, and improving five miles of track shared by freight and passenger service. With support from U.S. Sen. Jack Reed the federal government provided $160 million in FRIP funding. When the initial bond for FRIP passed in 1996, less than 1500 car loads per year entered Quonset. Fast forward two decades and we are now seeing close to 7,000 rail cars entering the Park on an annual basis bringing autos and material to many tenants here. Much of that growth has been due to the addition of auto racks, which began bringing cars to the Port of Davisville in 2007. Last year North Atlantic Distribution (NORAD) had more than 4,100 auto racks deliver close to 40,000 vehicles from the Midwest. "The FRIP project has been critical to the growth of Quonset Business Park," said QDC's Managing Director, Steven King, P.E.. "Had it not been for FRIP, fewer tenants would have utilized the rail service."
"The investment has helped create more opportunities for our tenants and drive economic growth for the state," King added. To learn more about the rail service at Quonset and our rail provider, Seaview Transportation, click here.
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Quonset Davisville Navy Yacht Club Celebrates 50th Anniversary
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QDNYC marks their 50th anniversary with the laying of memorial bricks to honor some of the Club's most accomplished commodores.
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The Quonset Davisville Navy Yacht Club (QDNYC) is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year. The club kicked off its festivities at its annual Commissioning Day this past Memorial Day. Certificates of appreciation were awarded to three past commodores, Frank Arnold, Lee Tuthill and Chris Courtney, whose leadership ensured QDNYC's long-term presence in Allen Harbor. This was followed in October with a dedication of engraved stones in their honor laid at the yacht club flagpole. Children of QDNYC's first Commodore, Captain Forrest Pease, were special guests on Commissioning Day and shared memories of their childhood experiences at the club in the late 1960s.
The club also commemorated the 50th anniversary with the raffle of a quilt made by several club members, along with presentations of historical information documenting growth and improvements to the club, and a celebration at the yacht club. Special guests at the anniversary party were John Bradley, QDNYC Commodore from 1971, who at 91 still sails solo around Conanicut Island, and Peg Forman, surviving wife of John Forman, QDNYC Commodore in 1975 and 1978.
The club was officially chartered in 1966 as The Quonset Davisville Yacht Club with the purpose of encouraging recreational boating, competitive racing and promoting seamanship for naval personnel at Quonset and Davisville. "Navy" was added to the name in 1975. The QDNYC, a private, non-profit corporation, continues to manage the facilities including docks as a volunteer work force and has had memberships open to the general public since 2000. Currently QDNYC holds a 30-year lease with the Quonset Development Corporation and is accepting new applicants.
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